7

D.—s

In the early part of the present month (June) a large number of labourers reported themselves at this office as being out of work. From inquiries I made lam able to give the following particulars respecting them : —The total number that applied up to 30th June was 397 —namely, 111 married men and 286 single. Of the 111 married men, 07 came to this district as Government immigrants, 20 came to other districts of New Zealand as Government immigrants, 11 came from Melbourne or Sydney, 4 were born in the colony, and 9 were passengers to New Zealand. Of the 286 single men, 112 were Government immigrants to Canterbury, 86 were Government immigrants to other parts of New Zealand, 64 came from Melbourne or Sydney, 5 were born in the colony, and 19 were passengers to New Zealand. The case of these men having been brought under the notice of the Government, directions were given to the Engineer in Charge of the Middle Island to lay off small sections of railway work at Waipara on which to employ them on piece-work, based at a rate of wages not exceeding 6s. per day. On the 30th June about 180 men were on the works. With regard to the unemployed question, I am convinced that a large number of the men who applied to me for work need not have been unemployed had they been disposed to work for a reasonable rate of wages heretofore. The nominated system continues to work very satisfactorily. The total number of nominations taken in this district was as follows :— At the Christchurch Office, 2,234 souls ... ... =1,942 statute adults. At the Timaru Office, 769 souls ... ... ... = 079 ~ Total, 3,001 souls ... ... ... = 2,621 as against 1,358 souls = 1,218 statute adults, for the previous year. The amount of cash received in connection with nominated immigration was £735 7s. 6d., and promissory notes to the value of £713 13s. have also been deposited at this office. The total amount collected ou immigration during the past year was £2,073 2s. 3d., asunder:— On bills and notes, £977 19s. 5d.; on provincial notes, £247 7s. ; passages in advance, £735 7s. 6d. ; rents and miscellaneous, £1!2 Bs. 4d.: total, £2,073 2s. 3d. The total amount outstanding on bills and notes on the 30th June was £13,182 13s. 6d. I have, &c, J. E. Maech, The Under Secretary for Immigration, Wellington. Immigration Officer.

No. 8. The Immigbation Officeb, Dunedin, to the ITndee Seceetaet for Immigration. Sib, — Immigration Office, Dunedin, 30th June, 1879. I have the honor to furnish, for the information of the Hon. the Minister for Immigration, my annual report relating to immigration to this port for the year ending SOtli June, 1879. During tiie season ten immigrant sliips have arrived, seven being direct to Port Chalmers, two o Blufl' Harbour, and one —the " Stad Haarlem " —to Lyttelton. The Other ships named in the return brought a few immigrants, who were short-shipped. The total number introduced has been 2,915 souls, equal to 2,5b3 statute adults; of this number, 5S0 souls, equal to 51G| adults, were introduced under the nomination system. 1 append a return of the ships' dates of arrival, births and deaths on the passage, and nationality of the immigrants. There has been a good and steady demand for country labour during the season now past, and in the case of ploughmen and domestic servants the demand was in excess of the supply. So long as the immigrants are suitable for the kind of labour in demand there will bo very little difficulty in comfortably placing them. The immigrants introduced here last season were generally of good character, and a suitable class. The rates of wages now ruling arc as follows : —Married couples for farms and stations, £05 to £75 per annum, and double rations ; ploughmen, £52 to £55 ; farm servants, £50 to £52; dairymaids, £10 to £45; general servants, £30 to £35; carpenters, 10s. to 12s. per day; bricklayers, 10s. to 12s. During the last six months there has been a large increase in the applications at this office under the free nominated regulations, chiefly owing to the depression in trade among the working-classes in. the Home-country. The number of nominations received during the year was 1,9G4 souls, equal to l,(595.j statute adults ; and at Invereargill, 5S0 souls, equal to 51U.j statute adults : making a total for this provincial district of 2,541 souls, equal to 2,212 statute adults. The nominations taken were chiefly confined to farm servants, coal-miners, labourers, and female servants. The health of the immigrants on the voyage was unusually good. The repayments of passage-money daring the past year amounted to £101 0s. 2d., and the amount received for passages and outfit to £740 5s. I have, &c, Colin Allan, The Under Secretary for Immigration, "Wellington. Immigration Officer.